Fluffy Socks begins to draw clear at the wire under Irad Ortiz Jr. in the Jimmy Durante
Head of Plains Partners’ favored Fluffy Socks escaped tight quarters at the head of the stretch, then accelerated smartly to draw clear at the finish for a half-length tally in the $102,500 Jimmy Durante Stakes Saturday at Del Mar.
The daughter of the British stallion Slumber was handled by Irad Ortiz, Jr. for trainer Chad Brown and had to survive a claim of foul to earn her $60,000 first prize in the Grade 3 feature for 2-year-old fillies. Ortiz, Jr. and Brown had just teamed up with another eastern-based filly, Orglandes, at the shore oval Thursday to capture the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap for older distaff runners.
Fluffy Socks ran the mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course in 1:35.35 to establish a stakes record. The previous mark was 1:35.68 set by Elsa in 2018.
“No special instructions for me,” Ortiz Jr. said. “He (Brown) just said ‘Ride her like you did before.’ She felt like a winner all the way around. We had some traffic on the turn (for home), but I got through and got her to where I wanted to be. She’s a nice filly. Big kick.”
Finishing second in the Durante was Godolphin’s Javanica and running third was Red Baron’s Barn or Rancho Temescal’s Quattroelle.
Fluffy Socks paid $5.40, $3.40 and $2.60 across the board. Javanica returned $5.20 and $3.80. Quattroelle paid $4.80.
The winner increased her bankroll to $226,880 for her third win in five starts.
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